Satellite Internet on the Road

After retiring from the Army, I spent the majority of my second career teaching and managing computer technology at both the high school and college level. We started full-timing a little over two months ago. We knew that we needed Internet on the road and that many locations where we would camp would have little or no cell service and as most folks know wifi can be a crapshoot where ever you go.

After much thought I decided to make a major commitment and go with Hughes Net on the road. It was expensive to start with the purchase of the dish and the equipment and is not exactly cheap for the monthly service. However, I felt that I would probably end up doing something online in my retirement. So far I have avoided the urge to look for supplemental employment, I know that I will get the urge before too long.

What I discovered is that satellite Internet is certainly not as fast as the dsl I had in my stick house, but is certainly faster than dial up. The tripod and other items I purchased to set up my service have made the setup and breakdown very easy. I could have gone roof mounted but the cost of a roof mounted satellite dish would be 2.5 times more expensive and when camping in trees, I would not be able to get a signal.

In my stick home, I also had a Linksys wireless router which I transferred to my MH. I gave my wife my older notebook computer and purchased a new one for myself. Now the DW and I E-mail each other from three feet away. I secured the router and on a couple of occasions, the next door neighbor has come by to borrow a "cup of Internet." I have gladly share my wireless connection with them.

As far as printing is concerned, the only room I had in the MH for my printer was in the very rear of the MH on a counter in the bedroom. I wanted the convenience of not having to connect the notebook and the printer each time I wanted to print so I purchased a wireless print server that allows the DW and me the ability of sending print jobs wirelessly to the printer.

If anyone would like more details on how I did this, please send me an E-mail.

Curt

I too bought the same net but I did go with the roof mount system. And you are right it is expensive. But setting up a dish was not my forte. And we had a tv dish previously that even though tacked to the ground with stakes and weight still got blown over in a good wind more than once. Making us have to reset the dish and find the satellite again. Decided I did not want the same problem with my internet. Also I dont know if you were told but you have little or now support with the tripod system, 1. hughesnet will not help you or me and 2. moto sat or whom ever is your support system do not want to assist with tripod systems as they say due to too many variables.
Good luck I wish ya the best in your travels and endeavors.

I went with Maxwell Satellite and they have been very helpful so far. I tremendously impressed with the tripod and equipment they supplied and the telephone support has been very good, but I have not had to use them except for twice.

The tripod was very substantial (construction tripod) and was modified to accept the dish. The tripod is held down with three stakes along with 3 gallon jugs filled with water. I do not think it is going anywhere unless the MH goes with it in which it does not matter what happens to the dish at that point.

When I first started RVing, I had one of those little tripods and it was a pain. It was only after I understood the importance of a level platform that I realized that the little tripods were a waste of money.

Curt

This tip is only for those who want to insure that their external Sat TV antenna is secured from tip over in windy weather conditions. Wal-Mart sells plastic covered boat anchors that are ideal for weighing down a sat dish. Those anchors are forged with a top loop hook that is idea for attaching any bungee cord that you have on a sat antenne tripod mount.I've used this boat anchor system for a couple years and it is rock steady. There is absolutely no need to "stake" the tripod to the ground with it. And one does not have fill up jugs with water.